as in partial
inclined to favor one side over another
a shamelessly partisan reporter covering the primary campaign
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also partizan
1
as in adherent
one who follows the opinions or teachings of another
partisans of the charismatic leader refuse to tolerate any criticism of him at all
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in militant
one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause
a partisan of the revolution who was even willing to give her life for it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sectarian
one who stubbornly or intolerantly adheres to his or her own opinions and prejudices
she's too much of a political partisan to ever concede that the other side might have a valid point
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of partisan
Max Tani, semafor.com, 15 June 2026
The National Council of Nonprofits argues that the proposal would allow discretionary awards to be shaped by partisan ideology rather than community needs or congressional intent.
—Mirae Kim, The Conversation, 15 June 2026
Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Tribalism renders too many partisans unable to think ahead more than one election.
—Washington Post Editorial Board, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for partisan
Adjective
The Times is one of a shrinking number of media organizations to enforce hard boundaries for its journalists, maintaining strict rules about social media use, partisan political speech (for non-opinion journalists), gifts, gambling, and campaign donations.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 15 June 2026
The National Council of Nonprofits argues that the proposal would allow discretionary awards to be shaped by partisan ideology rather than community needs or congressional intent.
—Mirae Kim, The Conversation, 15 June 2026
Noun
With a large pack of Democrats running and just two serious Republican contenders, Democratic partisans feared their fractured vote would let the GOP nab both spots in Tuesday’s top-two primary.
—Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Tribalism renders too many partisans unable to think ahead more than one election.
—Washington Post Editorial Board, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for partisan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for partisan
Adjective
-
Marshall, a Boston-area native who now lives in Queens, allegedly repeatedly failed to pay her workers or gave them only partial payments.—
Katie Houlis,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
-
The aftermath of the heist sparked multiple partial closures, delayed openings, and staff strikes this past December and January, with staff saying they are overworked and understaffed and that the museum needed greater investment in its infrastructure.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
But it’s also evolved over time and led to the formation of some religions — like Scientology, which counts many a Hollywood celebrity among its adherents — that see extraterrestrials as good or even part of a divine plan.—
Krysta Fauria,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
-
And Trump’s domineering, loutish approach to women spoke to its adherents in a way that few, if any, of his rivals could match.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Overnight on July 4, 2025, more than a dozen heavily armed antifa militants belonging to a Dallas-area antifa chapter ambushed Homeland Security personnel guarding the ICE holding site near Fort Worth.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
15 June 2026
-
Iran, which has armed Hamas, offers support to the militants.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
The Iraqi prime minister at the time, Nuri al-Maliki, was a Shiite sectarian with close ties to Iran, and many of his fellow Shia thought he could be relied on to listen to Iran’s wishes and find a way to avoid clashing with an Iranian proxy militia.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Both sides insist the other initiated the initial volley of gunfire that killed four agents and six sectarians.—
Joshua Alston,
Variety,
12 Apr. 2023
Adjective
-
But if his intention is a quick rate cut, the new chairman might be entering a hostile work environment.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
17 June 2026
-
French, American, British and other naval crews already have experience of escorting civilian ships through hostile fire in the region.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The adventure content creator had amassed more than 320,000 followers on Facebook, while some of his reels garnered millions of views.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
-
Musa has built a community of followers through her posts on the realities of modern life, netting her close to two million followers across social media platforms.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
The book is full of stories of villains, like the venomous heroin that took so many of Seattle’s crusaders as well as the music industry that never quite understood where Soundgarden belonged.—
Selena Fragassi,
SPIN,
9 June 2026
-
Fearless and willing to brawl for her convictions, Teela, who is the biological daughter of the Sorceress and adopted daughter of the Man-At-Arms, teaches He-Man how to be a crusader of Eternia.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
Noun
-
Barton’s pseudo-scholarship furnished Christian nationalists with valuable ammunition, but the movement needed foot soldiers.—
Michael Luo,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
-
Patrick said Democrats accuse Republicans of being Christian nationalists.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Partisan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/partisan. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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